Apr
okay so super bulky yarn projects
So you wanna work with super bulky yarn which honestly is probably the fastest way to actually finish something without losing your mind. I made this giant blanket back in spring 2022 when I was stuck at home with nothing to do and needed something that felt productive but didn’t require my brain to be fully functional.
The thing with super bulky yarn is it’s usually weight 6 on those yarn labels, sometimes you’ll see it called roving or chunky depending on the brand. I’ve used Wool-Ease Thick & Quick from Lion Brand a bunch because it’s everywhere and comes in decent colors. Also tried Bernat Blanket which is like insanely soft but we’ll get to the annoying part about that later.
what hook size you actually need
Most super bulky yarns want you to use like a 9mm to 12mm hook. I usually grab my 10mm (N) hook for most projects because it’s a good middle ground. If you go too small the fabric gets stiff and your hand will cramp up real fast. Too big and everything looks loose and sloppy unless that’s what you’re going for I guess.
The hook size matters more than people think because with chunky yarn every stitch is so visible. Like you can’t hide mistakes the way you can with regular worsted weight. Each stitch is just RIGHT THERE staring at you.
easiest projects to start with
Blankets are the obvious choice. You can literally just chain however wide you want it, then single crochet back and forth until it’s long enough. That’s it. The spring 2022 blanket I made was just single crochet rows and it still looked good because the yarn did all the work. Used like 6 skeins of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in that grey color, Charcoal I think.
Scarves work too but honestly they’re almost TOO fast. You can finish one in like two hours while watching TV and then you’re like okay now what. I made three in one weekend once and my cat kept laying on them while I was trying to work.
cowls and infinity scarves
These are great because you just make a long rectangle and seam the ends together. Or you can work in the round if you know how to join and chain up properly. I usually do about 60-80 chains, join with a slip stitch, then half double crochet around and around until it’s as tall as I want. Maybe 10-12 inches tall usually.
The Bernat Blanket yarn is really popular for this stuff because it’s got that chenille texture that feels nice against your neck. But here’s the annoying thing I mentioned – that yarn splits SO MUCH. Like you’re working along and your hook catches the yarn wrong and suddenly you’ve split the strand and have to back up and fix it. Drives me crazy. It’s pretty and soft but man, the splitting.
baskets and storage stuff
If you want something functional, baskets are good. You work in the round, starting with a magic ring or just chain 4 and join. Then you increase in a circle for the bottom, and once it’s as wide as you want you stop increasing and just go straight up for the sides.
I made a bunch of these as gifts and people actually use them which is rare for crochet gifts honestly. They hold blankets or toys or whatever. The chunky yarn makes them sturdy enough to stand up on their own.
how much yarn you’re gonna need
This is where super bulky gets expensive fast. Those skeins look huge but they’re usually only like 100-140 yards each. A throw blanket that’s maybe 40×50 inches will eat up 5-7 skeins easy. At like $8-12 per skein depending where you shop, it adds up.
I try to catch sales at Joann or Michael’s. Hobby Lobby has decent prices too but I don’t always remember to check there. Sometimes you can find Big Twist yarn at Joann which is their brand and it’s cheaper, comes in super bulky weight.
For a basic scarf you’re looking at 1-2 skeins. Cowl is about the same. Baby blanket maybe 3-4 skeins. Those giant arm knit looking blankets people make? Yeah those need like 8-10 skeins minimum and that’s if you’re not making it huge.
patterns vs just winging it
Honestly with super bulky you can kinda just wing most things. The yarn is so thick that complicated stitch patterns don’t really show up well anyway. I stick to basic stitches – single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet. Sometimes I’ll do a simple shell stitch if I’m feeling fancy but that’s about it.
Single crochet makes the densest fabric, good for things that need structure. Half double is my go-to for blankets because it works up faster than single but isn’t as holey as double crochet. Double crochet is fine for scarves or lighter blankets where you want more drape.
There’s free patterns on Ravelry obviously, just search for weight 6 yarn. Lion Brand’s website has a bunch too since they want you to buy their yarn. But real talk, for most projects you can just start with a foundation chain and figure it out as you go.
the actual annoying parts nobody warns you about
Your hands will get tired faster. The thick yarn and big hooks mean you’re manipulating more weight with each stitch. After like an hour my right hand starts getting sore. I have to take breaks more often than with regular yarn.
It’s also harder to see your stitches in dark colors. I tried making something with this navy blue Bernat Blanket and literally couldn’t see where to put my hook half the time. Had to move near a window. Dark colors + chunky texture = squinting a lot.
Storage is annoying too because those big skeins take up so much space. I have a whole basket just for super bulky yarn and it only holds like 8 skeins.
Oh and frogging (ripping out mistakes) is more annoying because each stitch takes longer to undo. With regular yarn you can just pull and zip through a whole row. With super bulky you’re there for a while picking it apart.
yarn types and textures
So there’s different kinds of super bulky yarn and they all work up differently. The smooth ones like Wool-Ease Thick & Quick are easiest to work with. Your hook slides through nice, stitches are clear.
Chenille types like Bernat Blanket or Bernat Alize Blanket-EZ are soft but splitty like I said. They make really cozy stuff though. Good for baby blankets or anything meant to be cuddly.
Then there’s roving yarn which is barely twisted at all, super thick and squishy. This stuff is… okay it looks cool but it pills like crazy and isn’t very durable. I made a cowl with some roving yarn and after wearing it a few times it looked ratty. Better for decorative stuff that won’t get much use.
Loops & Threads Cozy Wool is another brand I’ve tried from Michaels. It’s acrylic despite the name, works up nice. Similar to Wool-Ease but sometimes cheaper on sale.
working in the round vs rows
Most of my super bulky projects are worked in rows because it’s just easier. Back and forth, turn, repeat. But if you’re making hats or cowls you’ll need to work in the round.
The thing with working in the round is you gotta make sure your foundation chain isn’t twisted before you join. With chunky yarn it’s really obvious if you twisted it and you’ll have to start over. Check it twice before joining trust me.
Also your join can look messy with thick yarn. I usually do a slip stitch to join but then the seam is visible. Some people do an invisible join but honestly I can’t be bothered most of the time. If it’s gonna be hidden inside a cowl or whatever who cares.
quick project ideas that actually work
Pillows are good if you have fabric for backing. Just crochet a square in whatever stitch, make it the size you want, then sew it onto fabric backing and stuff it. Or make two crocheted squares and seam three sides, stuff it, seam the fourth side.
Headbands work up in like 20 minutes. Chain about 4-5 inches worth, then single crochet back and forth until it’s long enough to go around your head. Seam the ends together. Done. You can add a button or flower or whatever if you want it to look less plain.
Coffee cozies or cup sleeves are cute. Measure around your cup, chain that length plus a bit extra, work in rows for like 3-4 inches tall, seam it into a tube. Boom, fancy cup sleeve. Makes okay gifts I guess.
I made a pet bed once with super bulky yarn, just worked in a spiral to make a big flat circle then kept going up the sides a bit. My cat used it for like a week then decided she’d rather sleep on my clean laundry instead so, you know, typical cat behavior.
gauge and tension stuff
Gauge matters less with simple projects but you should still kinda pay attention. If you crochet really tight your blanket’s gonna be stiff and use more yarn. Too loose and it’ll be floppy and full of holes.
I tend to crochet on the looser side naturally so I sometimes go down a hook size from what the yarn suggests. Like if it says 11mm I might use 10mm. But that’s personal preference really.
For blankets you want it loose enough to be soft and drapey but tight enough that it’s not see-through. For baskets you want it tighter so they hold their shape. You’ll figure out what works after making a few things.
finishing and weaving in ends
Weaving in ends with super bulky yarn is actually easier in some ways because you can just thread it through a few stitches and it’s secure. The thickness holds it in place. But you need a big yarn needle obviously, those tiny ones won’t work.
Sometimes I just tie the ends in a knot and trim them if it’s gonna be hidden anyway. I know that’s not the “right” way but like… it’s fine. Haven’t had anything fall apart yet.
Blocking isn’t usually necessary for super bulky projects. The yarn is too thick to really change shape much. I’ve never blocked a chunky blanket and they all look fine.
common mistakes and how to avoid them
Losing count of your stitches is easy because they’re so big you think you can’t possibly miscount. But then you get to the end of a row and you’re off by two stitches somehow. Use stitch markers if you need to, especially at the beginning and end of rows.
Not leaving a long enough tail at the start. With thick yarn you need more length for weaving in. Leave like 8-10 inches at least.
Accidentally working into the wrong stitch because the yarn is so chunky you can’t see clearly. This happens to me more than I’d like to admit. Just go slow and make sure you’re going through both loops unless the pattern says otherwise.
is it actually worth it
I mean yeah if you want something done fast. That spring 2022 blanket took me maybe a week working on it casually while watching Netflix. Same size blanket in worsted weight would’ve taken months probably and I would’ve given up halfway through.
The instant gratification is real. You can see progress immediately which keeps you motivated to finish. And people are always impressed by big chunky projects even though they’re honestly easier than detailed work with thin yarn.
Cost wise it’s expensive upfront but you’re done faster so maybe it evens out? I don’t know, I don’t really track that stuff closely. But yeah you’re gonna spend $50-80 on yarn for a blanket most likely.
The projects are practical at least. People actually use the blankets and scarves and stuff. Not like when you make a tiny amigurumi that just sits on a shelf collecting dust. Though I guess some people like that kind of thing.
